South Douglas Conservation District's proactive efforts are reducing wildfire risks and enhancing forest health on Badger Mountain.
South Douglas CD's fuels reduction project on Badger Mountain spans 115 acres of forested land— the only area of its kind in Douglas County. The district partnered with nine landowners and the Department of Natural Resources to reduce fire hazards by thinning overgrown trees, removing limbs from branches, and clearing dense underbrush.
The results are striking:
Established in the 1890s and donated to Washington State University in 2020, Vetter Farm is jointly managed by the Stevens County Conservation District and WSU Extension. This 158-acre property serves as a working demonstration farm, supporting soil health research, agroforestry trials, and educational field days that bring local producers together to share ideas and test new approaches.
In the glacial valleys of Stevens County, the Hagen family partners with the Stevens County Conservation District to advance voluntary conservation on their registered Black Angus and Hereford operation. Through programs like VSP and Floodplains by Design, they’re improving soil health, managing manure responsibly, and maintaining productive irrigated pastures.
Jefferson County CD partnered with Spring Rain Farm to install multistory riparian buffers that protect wetlands while keeping the farm productive. It’s a working example of how restoration and agriculture can thrive together.